CHINA WARNS VIETNAM OVER FISHING INCURSIONS NEAR XISHA ISLANDS

BEIJING - In a move indicative of recent military brinksmanship, China has warned Vietnam to stop vessels ‘illegally’ fishing near the Chinese-claimed Xisha Islands in the South China Sea. In the third week of March, Vietnam claimed that a fishing vessel was fired at and chased by a Chinese military vessel, a claim China has not denied and instead branded ‘necessary and legitimate’. Chinese claims to ownership of island groups in the South China Sea has led to a deterioration of relations with ASEAN, in particular with Vietnam.